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The 2nd International Campus City of La Laguna celebrates the democratic and humanist legacy of Gregorio Peces-Barba

The CajaCanarias La Laguna Cultural Center will host, throughout the month of July, an exhibition tracing the life and career of one of the leading figures in recent Spanish history.
The exhibition's opening included a discussion on the enduring relevance of the thought of this Spanish jurist, politician, and academic, recognized as one of the architects of the 1978 Constitution.

The II International Campus City of La Laguna inaugurated this Thursday, at the CajaCanarias La Laguna Cultural Space, the exhibition 'Legacy-Archive. Gregorio Peces-Barba. The voice of democracy and human rights', a show that recovers the intellectual and political trajectory of one of the decisive figures of democratic Spain.

The opening ceremony, held at Casa Anchieta, was complemented by the conference and dialogue "The Figure of Gregorio Peces-Barba in the Defense of Democracy and Human Rights," featuring Humberto Ríos Rodríguez, a trustee of the Gregorio Peces-Barba Foundation, and Dulce Cairós Barreto, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of La Laguna.
Prior to the opening, the event included remarks from Fernando Sánchez Cáceres, Director of Communication, Image, and Institutional Relations at the CajaCanarias Foundation, and Juan Antonio García García, Secretary General of the University of La Laguna. It brought together specialists and the public to discuss the enduring relevance of the thought of one of the architects of the 1978 Spanish Constitution.
Fernando Sánchez Cáceres emphasized the wisdom of partnering with the Gregorio Peces-Barba Foundation to address a topic so closely linked to human rights. In his speech, he recalled that the defense of these principles is one of the inspiring axes of the activity of the CajaCanarias Foundation and highlighted the figure of Peces-Barba as "an intellectual reference in areas such as the Philosophy of Law, Public International Law and the theory of fundamental rights."

The director also noted “the enduring relevance of Gregorio Peces-Barba’s ethical and legal legacy.” In this regard, he expressed his satisfaction that “the exhibition and the accompanying dialogue will bring the values and principles that underpin human rights closer to the public.”.

The Secretary General of the University of La Laguna, Juan Antonio García, emphasized that the exhibition on Gregorio Peces-Barba invites reflection on the relevance and current challenges of fundamental rights, highlighting “the intellectual legacy of a key figure in the development of contemporary constitutional and legal thought.” He also thanked the collaborating organizations for their contribution in bringing to the public “an exhibition that fosters debate and reflection on democratic values.”.

In the conference, Humberto Ríos highlighted the figure of Gregorio Peces-Barba as one of the essential personalities in the construction of democratic Spain and in the development of contemporary thought on human rights, emphasizing the work carried out by the Gregorio Peces-Barba Foundation to preserve and disseminate his legacy through academic, cultural and institutional collaboration initiatives.

Dulce Cairós emphasized the importance of keeping alive the memory of those who contributed to the conquest and consolidation of fundamental rights, reminding everyone that these are not definitive achievements, but rather advances that require constant defense. In this regard, she stressed that human rights constitute the foundation of coexistence, solidarity, and human dignity—essential values for facing the challenges of today's world.

After the talk, a guided tour of the exhibition took place, located in the CajaCanarias Cultural Space of La Laguna (Plaza del Adelantado, 1), led by its curator, Honorio Penadés de la Cruz.

A journey through the life and work of Gregorio Peces-Barba

The exhibition presents a selection of materials held in the Multidisciplinary Library at the Colmenarejo Campus of the Carlos III University of Madrid. Through documents, photographs, publications, and objects from his personal archive, it highlights key moments in the life and work of Gregorio Peces-Barba and his essential legacy for understanding the recent history of Spain.

Structured around three areas linked to his role as a lawyer, politician and academic, the exhibition reviews everything from his defense of fundamental rights in the practice of law to his participation in the drafting of the Spanish Constitution, as well as his time as president of the Congress of Deputies and his role as founder and rector of the Carlos III University of Madrid.

The CajaCanarias La Laguna Cultural Center will host the exhibition until Thursday, July 30. Those interested can register and find more information on the website www.campusinternacionalciudaddelalaguna.es.

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